Chris d'Entremont to step aside as Argyle-Barrington MLA July 31; former cabinet minister to run federally in West Nova

Nova News Now

Published: Jul 19 at 2:06 p.m.

Updated: Jul 19 at 2:41 p.m.

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Chris d'Entremont will step down as MLA for Argyle-Barrington effective July 31. The Progressive Conservatives will choose a new Argyle-Barrington candidate at a nomination meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 25, in Tusket. - Contributed

Longtime Progressive Conservative MLA Chris d’Entremont has announced he will retire as the MLA for Argyle-Barrington, effective July 31.

“It has been an honour and a real privilege to work so hard on behalf of the people of Argyle and Barrington for 16 years,” d’Entremont said. “I am proud of what I have accomplished and of the many people who worked alongside me.”

The PCs are scheduled to choose a candidate for Argyle-Barrington Thursday, July 25, at a nomination meeting at the Par-en-Bas school in Tusket.

Colton LeBlanc and Craig Prouty are seeking the PC nomination for the Argyle-Barrington riding.

The Liberals recently picked Charlene LeBlanc as their candidate for Argyle-Barrington.

The other parties have yet to pick candidates.

A date for a byelection to elect d’Entremont’s successor as Argyle-Barrington MLA has not been announced.

D’Entremont is moving to federal politics. He will run for the Conservatives in West Nova in this year’s federal election.

D’Entremont was first elected as the MLA for the former riding of Argyle in August 2003 and went on to hold various ministerial portfolios, including agriculture and fisheries, Acadian affairs, health and community services. He was minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat and chair of the Senior Citizens' Secretariat and briefly was interim minister of finance.

In Opposition he acted as Progressive Conservative house leader.

“I am enthusiastic about taking on new challenges as the Conservative MP for West Nova,” d’Entremont said. “And I am very excited to watch Tim Houston and Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives form the next government.”